Having perceived a growing interest in the sport of golf and a desire to maximize recreation facilities within the Johannesburg campus perimeter, a golf area was designated for future development in the 2011 Johannesburg master facility plan. In 2012, work started on the southwest corner of the property adjacent to the soccer fields on the development of AISJ’s own golf facilities, which is named Eagle Creek. The facility offers a 250m2 T-box area with artificial and natural grass, 12 available bays for practicing with 5 target greens ranging from 90 - 220 meters. Two of these greens have the option of multiple pin placements so that players can focus on the distance of their clubs. A 240m2 chipping and 200m2 putting green as well as bunkers has been created close to all the greens so that every aspect of a golf student’s short game can be practiced.
Natural areas and small water retention dams have been created to invite indigenous and endemic fauna and flora to flourish. These areas will serve a dual purpose not only for golf students but also for science students to do stream, pond and water studies as part of their learning.
Gordon Millar, a certified PGA teaching professional, has now been engaged to coach full time from this facility. He provides teaching programs to students who are interested in the game and is available for private lessons. Gordon will also work closely with the school’s golf teams and be an integral part of our after school program.
Currently AISJ students from grades 5 through 12 utilize this facility during their PE classes to learn the basics of the game of golf. Students from grade 2 through grade12 will have an opportunity to take group lessons as an after school activity. All AISJ community members will be able to take private lessons with Gordon during a scheduled time at a discounted rate. In addition to these opportunities, AISJ will be hosting its first ever-International Schools of Southern and Eastern Africa (ISSEA) Golf Invitational this November. Teams from Ethiopia and Kenya plan to come to Johannesburg to participate in this exciting event. In the coming years we will continue to grow our golf program at AISJ and hope that we field golf team each year and that Golf becomes an official ISSEA sport.